A small, handmade antique Belgian ceramic floor with same size back to back border tiles and two individual field tiles. The tiles bear the reverse inscription rings and 'M' identifying the floor as having been produced by Carrelages Céramiques de Chimay, Maufroid & Soeur, Rue Poncet, Bourlers, Henegouwen, Belgium, who later became: S.A. La Céramique de Bourlers.

Maufroid Freres et Soeur traded as such between 1879 and 1912 and this floor originates from between the two dates.

17cm square tiles, 15mm thick the total surface of the floor is 6.7m2+ but can be augmented to 8m2 with additional tiles supplied free.

The ceramic of the tile is excellent and the floor reveals a rich surface patina, as can been seen in the high resolution photographs below. Some tiles display capillary cracks which were formed when the tile left the kiln and was exposed to a humid environment. The crack forms as heat attempts to escape at the same time as moisture is drawn in. Also, at the time of production, it appears impurities in the clay have caused a surface pitting, 1mm to 3mm deep in a number of tiles. This is sometimes known as "Spit-Out" and may indicate that the tiles were sold originally as seconds or even thirds. Again, this effect can be seen in the photographs below and we have taken a couple of individual photos of a tile with a capillary crack and one with surface pitting.

In addition to the tile quantities below there is another 1.4m2 of tiles with a greater degree of pitting, which we happily supply free for integration within the floor or to use as halves and for cuts. There are a considerable number of border tiles with this floor and all 4 internal and 4 external corner pieces for the border are present and correct.

If you are looking for a floor with a rich, antique, aged patina then this floor is a strong candidate. The random section below of the floor, totalling some 1.5m2, is an accurate representation of the whole floor.

Tile quantities, give or take one or two:-

Main field tile – blue motif – 58 tiles – 1.66m2

Main field tile – caramel motif – 61 – 1.74m2

Large borders* – 108 plus 8 corners – 3.32m2

* 19.7 - 9.9 linear metres / 32.3 linear ft as a back to back lay. Double for a single lay.